Walter was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. His body was recovered and will be interred next to his parents in Illinois on Memorial Day 2018.
RM2c Walter H. Backman was on duty in the radio compartment of the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) when it was hit by a great number of Japanese Type 91 aerial torpedoes. The Oklahoma capsized approximately 12 minutes after the first torpedo hit. According to a survivor from the USS West Virginia, which was anchored next to the Oklahoma: "Let me assure you that the radio compartment (where Walter worked) was immediately submerged and the men could not have lived more than a half-hour."
On May 25th, 1943, Walter was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Walter Howard Backman was the son of August Ferdinand Backman and Beatrice M. Pope.
RIP, cousin. You are truly a hero. I am so sad that I was never able to meet you.
Many thanks to NLColes for the photos of Walter's memorial and the location of his name!
The following was contributed by usafdo. Thank you!
Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency
21 MAY 2018
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, accounted-for from World War II, are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Navy Radioman 2nd Class Walter H. Backman, 22, of Wilton, North Dakota, and accounted for on July 17, 2017, will be buried May 28 in Batavia, Illinois.
~Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise~
RM2c Walter H. Backman was on duty in the radio compartment of the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) when it was hit by a great number of Japanese Type 91 aerial torpedoes. The Oklahoma capsized approximately 12 minutes after the first torpedo hit. According to a survivor from the USS West Virginia, which was anchored next to the Oklahoma: "Let me assure you that the radio compartment (where Walter worked) was immediately submerged and the men could not have lived more than a half-hour."
On May 25th, 1943, Walter was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Walter Howard Backman was the son of August Ferdinand Backman and Beatrice M. Pope.
RIP, cousin. You are truly a hero. I am so sad that I was never able to meet you.
Many thanks to NLColes for the photos of Walter's memorial and the location of his name!
The following was contributed by usafdo. Thank you!
Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency
21 MAY 2018
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, accounted-for from World War II, are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Navy Radioman 2nd Class Walter H. Backman, 22, of Wilton, North Dakota, and accounted for on July 17, 2017, will be buried May 28 in Batavia, Illinois.
~Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise~
Walter was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. His body was recovered and will be interred next to his parents in Illinois on Memorial Day 2018.
RM2c Walter H. Backman was on duty in the radio compartment of the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) when it was hit by a great number of Japanese Type 91 aerial torpedoes. The Oklahoma capsized approximately 12 minutes after the first torpedo hit. According to a survivor from the USS West Virginia, which was anchored next to the Oklahoma: "Let me assure you that the radio compartment (where Walter worked) was immediately submerged and the men could not have lived more than a half-hour."
On May 25th, 1943, Walter was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Walter Howard Backman was the son of August Ferdinand Backman and Beatrice M. Pope.
RIP, cousin. You are truly a hero. I am so sad that I was never able to meet you.
Many thanks to NLColes for the photos of Walter's memorial and the location of his name!
The following was contributed by usafdo. Thank you!
Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency
21 MAY 2018
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, accounted-for from World War II, are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Navy Radioman 2nd Class Walter H. Backman, 22, of Wilton, North Dakota, and accounted for on July 17, 2017, will be buried May 28 in Batavia, Illinois.
~Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise~
RM2c Walter H. Backman was on duty in the radio compartment of the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) when it was hit by a great number of Japanese Type 91 aerial torpedoes. The Oklahoma capsized approximately 12 minutes after the first torpedo hit. According to a survivor from the USS West Virginia, which was anchored next to the Oklahoma: "Let me assure you that the radio compartment (where Walter worked) was immediately submerged and the men could not have lived more than a half-hour."
On May 25th, 1943, Walter was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Walter Howard Backman was the son of August Ferdinand Backman and Beatrice M. Pope.
RIP, cousin. You are truly a hero. I am so sad that I was never able to meet you.
Many thanks to NLColes for the photos of Walter's memorial and the location of his name!
The following was contributed by usafdo. Thank you!
Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency
21 MAY 2018
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, accounted-for from World War II, are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Navy Radioman 2nd Class Walter H. Backman, 22, of Wilton, North Dakota, and accounted for on July 17, 2017, will be buried May 28 in Batavia, Illinois.
~Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise~
